GROTON, CT. SUBSCHOOL & "A" SCHOOL MOMS

hi
My Son is currently in Groton, Ct. for Submarine School then "A" School.
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  • Linda

    Congratulations to all the sailors who graduated BESS this morning. Proud of all of them!!

  • Nereida

    Very proud of all the sailors who graduated from BESS this morning. It was a very nice ceremony. I have photos which will be coming ASAP!
  • Nereida

    The photos from BESS graduation 8/22/14 are up. Visit my page to see if your son is there!
  • sggkw4

    My son graduated from Groton on July 31st and went to HI. He cancelled his internet service before he left but I was checking his checking account because he has already left on his first deployment and the company has pulled another payment from his account. 

    Does anyone at Groton know how I can contact this company to see about fixing this?

     

  • tysmom

    Did your sailor leave you in charge of his finances? You should be able to stop it. Call the company directly.

    Come join the Hawaii group.

  • Linda

    Good luck to all the sailors starting their new classes today. One step closer to joining the fleet. What a journey we are on together.
    Big navy hugs to all the moms
  • scubagirl

    Can anyone tell me at what point the new sailors are allowed a car on base?  Our son is in Phase II but trying to figure out when he would be allowed a personal vehicle.  It sure would be much easier  when the stand down comes for Christmas if he did not have to rely on taxi or trains, etc to get to airport for flights.  He is not wanting older family car, 91 Taurus but we feel best thing until he gets PDS.  Also driving in lots of snow will be new for him.  We have ice in GA and snow sometimes.  

  • Annette

    CAKES! Someone was looking for info but I can't find the conversation, but here you go: on fb, K's homemade sweets n treats. Kristen can also be reached at klajoie0204@sbcglobal.net

  • ProudMomOfTwo

    I forgot to join this group awhile ago....lol.....my son just graduated BESS this past friday....and started BMS yesterday....I am a very proud mama....HOOYAH!!!!
  • Linda

    Proud Mom of Two    - My son graduated from BESS last Friday and started BMS yesterday as well.  Small class of only 10 sailors .  Very cool that are kids are in the same class.  The BMS is only three weeks than he is on hold for a week and on to weapon school for ten weeks.  I am so proud of all of the sailors.  HOOYAH !!

  • Bainite

    New sailor - on his way to Groton tomorrow:

    Question regarding their flight out - If my sailor's flight leaves form terminal 3 (O'Hare), will the RTC bus take them directly to Terminal 3, or will they stop at terminal 2 USO first?  I need to figure out where to meet up with him to get the Gate pass.

  • scubagirl

    Bainite, they will be dropped off at Terminal 2 to check in with the USO, eventually check in with airline and get luggage tags.  Meet him at terminal 2.  As I tell everyone, when my son left at the end of July we parked in hourly parking.  His flight did not leave until 7ish.  We were not thinking and we had a $41.00 parking fee.  Park in the day rate, it is about $12.00.  Airport is dead at 2:00am.  Lots of space and make sure to remember where you parked.  Our brain was fried at that point with no sleep.  Took us a few minutes to remember where we parked.  We live in Atlanta and travel through Atlanta International all the time but we did not remember to note where we parked.  Enjoy your time together before his flight.  My son is enjoying Groton and will graduate BESS on Oct 3d and then start A school there also. 

  • Bainite

    Scubagirl, THANK YOU!!  :D

  • FlowerPowerNavyMom

    Good morning Moms!

    I have a question - My son will be in sub school for the holidays. Do they get time to come home or would it be possible to go there to see him?

    Thank You!

  • mrsb

    FlowerPower he will probably be able to come home at Christmas time.  My son was there for Thanksgiving last year and Mom C was kind enough to provide him with a home cooked Thanksgiving meal!!!  I and he will be ever so grateful to her and her family!!!!!!

  • FlowerPowerNavyMom

    OMGoodness, MOM C ship 10/ div 257! That would be so awesome! Hoping to be able to come out there, but in the event we cant be with him I am ecstatic knowing there is a Navy family willing to have him.  Thank you so very much!

  • Lani

    Jodymac-when we visited my son in Groton we flew in to Boston and it was an easy drive. We stayed at the Navy Lodge in New London which is only about 5 minutes from the sub base. The prices were great and the room has a kitchenette in case you want to cook for your Sailor. At some point during your visit, you'll have to bring your Sailor to the hotel so they he can show his military ID. We went to New York for the weekend and when we got back into town we visited Mystic and of course went to their famous pizza parlor. We also went to the Gillette Castle in East Haddam, CT. It's about 35-40 minutes from the base.
  • tysmom

    Navy Lodge is a great place to stay. Flanders Fish Market is great to eat at, although more pricy. . And for homey food, the Groton Townhouse. Oh yes, a must place to eat is Pauls Pasta. They make their pasta.These are all close. Trip to Boston, trip to NY all doable in a day.

  • Lani

    I rented a car because we were there for about a week. I don't remember how long the ride was. We stayed the weekend in NY and did all the touristy stuff. I live in Florida and it takes more than 8 hours to get out of the state, so a couple of hours is a piece of cake :)
  • tysmom

    Unless your son has a car you can use, you need to rent one...play the internet game ie Hotwire or a myriad of others...you obviously want to go places and see the area...

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    My son got his verbal orders last night. He will eventually be going to Kingsbay Ga. His ship is elsewhere in dry dock for a year. So I guess that will delay his quals for his fish. He seems excited!

  • scubagirl

    My son is still in BESS until Oct 3rd, but at what point do they get their orders?  Is it during A school or before?

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Scuba girl - they get orders toward the end of A school. Depending on your sons rate, there may be techno & ATT school before A school. My son has been in Groton since December - he's ready to actually be a sailor!
  • scubagirl

    He will be Machinist Mate on Weapons. I know he has A school and then possibly have C school so I guess it will be a while. I was wondering because some of his mates mom's from boot camp are posting their sailors have orders already. Guess they do not have as much school as my sailor.
  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Many of those people are surface fleet sailors. They went to a school right out of basic training so yes they going to get assigned a whole lot faster than the submariners do. All submariners have to go through eight weeks of Bess before they do anything else
  • hoosiermamma

    BESS graduation in two weeks!  WOOOHOO!  Driving to CT from IN, staying at Navy Lodge, going to have a K's Sweets & Treats cake.  Am hoping my son has his orders so he can come home with us! 

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    hoosiermamma - BESS is just the beginning! Depending on rate he has possibly 3 more schools before orders! Mine is Sonar - SECF, graduated BESS in February, Techno in April, ATT in May and should graduate A school in October. He got his orders last night.

  • hoosiermamma

    Actually Cath, my son completed YN A school in May so BESS is his last step before the fleet.  The YN detailer tends to drag his feet, my son has had several YN friends graduate since he has been at Groton and many of them have been put on hold for weeks waiting their orders.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    That's true - I remember a sailors leaving right after BESS. Those sailors flew out the next day. I'm sure as soon as he knows - you'll know! Hopefully he will hear soon!

  • hoosiermamma

    I believe YNs and LSs (both have A school in Meridian, MS) leave right after BESS.  Didn't go to MS for A school graduation so HAVE to be there for BESS!  Looking forward to Paul's Pasta and Ted's Burgers! 

  • scubagirl

    Thanks Cath Bubblehead, I thought that was the reason.  I know he has A school next in Groton and then possibly C school before he gets a PDS.  I will be going to BESS graduation on October 3rd.  If anyone can not be there then and wants pictures let me know.  I will gladly take pictures. 

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Enjoy, BESS - it is a nice ceremony. It made me feel a whole lot better about him being underwater for months! There is a tremendous camaraderie in that group! 

  • Navymom1991

    Happy Sunday! My son had PIR on Aug 15th and then straight to sub school..I'm just learning about BESS. does anyone have info on this? My NS says he thinks the graduation is on the 17th of Oct. but doesn't know for sure. I'd like to go!

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Welcome navymom1991! BESS is about 8 weeks.there is a great document on the BESS FB page. If you are not on Facebook, I will try to copy it here. BESS is all about learning every aspect of the sub. After BESS there will be more training. My son PIR'd in December, he will finally be getting a boat in October!
  • scubagirl

    navymom 1991 my son was there about 2 weeks before BESS started as they had to wait until enough new sailors arrived to start a new class. Your sailor may be lucky and get to start soon. I know they have to have indoctrination before class starts.  My son is scheduled to graduate BESS on Oct 3rd and then has A school.  Hoping there is not a wait for that class to start, but from what I read it is common for holds until there is enough sailors for a class.  I am looking forward to my visit in October.  Welcome

  • Navymom1991

    Thanks for the great info scubagirl and Cath...Did anyone attend the ceremony? or is this just for the SN's? 

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    The BESS graduation is for families as well as the sailors. No limit on the number attending. It is intimate, pictures are encouraged - but cell phones are not allowed in the building.

    I was impressed with the comoradarie with the submariners.
  • Navymom1991

    Thanks again! I am going to go. I'll get pictures if anyone wants to see..

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Many of us who have gone, have taken pictures of as many sailors as possible - then posted them on Dropbox or Facebook for those who could not attend.
  • scubagirl

    Navymon1991, My son's BESS graduation is Oct 3rd so it will be my first trip to Groton. He will be there in school until early spring next year.  I will go for the BESS graduation and then back for A school graduation.  With any luck I will also go once between the two graduations.  I will be taking pictures for anyone that is not able to attend. 

  • navyboy2012

    Some of you may all ready know about this group!

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1d6iyaLiqt2kG26SgoXhc1U_P4zTRvGcCV2...

  • FlowerPowerNavyMom

    Good morning Moms!

    Question - Blanket. Can my SR take the blanket I made for him to have at school with him or do I need to ship later?

  • scubagirl

    My prayers go out to the families and shipmates of the two pilots involved in today's crash. May God be with them all.
  • tidefan

    flower power ship it to him

  • scubagirl

    Received the Keel today from my son's boot camp.  Looking forward to seeing if I find pictures of him in it.  Have not received my DVD yet.  He had PIR 7/25/14.

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Scubagirl, when we were looking through my son's Keel, they used the serious picture of him. When I showed our grandson, he said "Uncle John looks sad" but then saw all the other sailor pictures and pointed to one and said "he's happy there"

    To the 2 year old, they all looked like Uncle John!

  • mark's mom

    Scubagirl, my son had his PIR 7/25/14, and we haven't received our DVD or pics yet.  

  • scubagirl

    Cath Bubblehead, that is so funny.  What was your PIR date?   I got to watch PIR DVD yesterday and did see my son march in.  Granddaughter watched so she could see her Uncle.   She could not go but made a poster for me to take for him.

  • Cath Bubblehead mom

    Scuba girl, my son PIR'd last Dec. he is in A school, and will be graduating the end of October. This year has flown by!

    So sweet about your granddaughter making a poster! Last Thanksgiving when the whole crew was over, we put together a poster for PIR. I had photoshopped a picture of my son with a sailor uniform on. We ended up placing that picture on an empty chair at the table - it was too funny.
  • tidefan

    Ladies. I have not been on here very much because my son has been on hold for his security clearance due to student loans. WELL, I got a phone call this morning. He has been cleared and can now start school